Alex Pereira was only two months removed from his knockout win over Jamahal Hill in the UFC 300 main event, he was also recovering from multiple broken toes and was on a tour in Australia when he decided to take a risk not every champion or star fighter would.
The defending 205-pound champion accepted a short-notice rematch with Jiri Prochazka, and the pair of popular light-heavyweights were named as the replacement main event for UFC 303 later this month after Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler was removed because of an injury sustained by McGregor.
“I understand that this fight is very close and there may be difficulties with the lead-up time BUT if there is somebody that can make this happen it is me! POATAN!” Pereira posted on social media after the UFC made the news official.
“This is why I am one of the biggest names in the UFC Alex Pereira!!! I take risks that not one other person would be willing to take but I know I have my ancestors with me. The spirits are with me and I’m ready for it all.”
Pereira, a former UFC middleweight champion with wins over Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, is 3-0 since moving up a division after his knockout loss to Adesanya in their MMA rematch.
The 36-year-old former kickboxing champion also stepped up to headline UFC 300 on relatively short notice earlier in the year, although he had more time to prepare for that event.
Brazil’s Pereira knocked out Prochazka in November, when they headlined UFC 295 and fought for the vacant title at Madison Square Garden.
Prochazka, the current No. 1-ranked contender in the division, got back in the win column at UFC 300 when he earned a thrilling technical knockout plus a Performance of the Night bonus for his win over Aleksandar Rakić.
The 31-year-old Czech is a one-time title holder. Prochazka won the title at UFC 275 two years ago when he submitted Glover Teixeira, Pereira’s teammate and coach, but later vacated the title after sustaining a significant shoulder injury. His UFC 295 loss to Pereira was his first fight back after 17-month layoff following surgery.
UFC 303 takes place June 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
